Silverware container



Oct'

sInvsRw'ARE CONT Flu-0d arch 1' 194 y ,22 ZZ 3mm 25 Zidi@ zz y Patented Oct. 22, 17940 UNITED This invention relates tosilverware rolls and has for its principal object the provision of a display container for flatware in which the individual pieces are pocketed as usual but where? in provision is made to prevent those portions 0f the Ware which are exposed for display from touching each other when the container is rolled.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a silverware roll of a pinked ap adapted to overlie and underlie the adjacent handles of the pieces of atware.

In the usual silverware rolls, which term is used to include all containers for holding such objects as knives, forks and spoons of either solid silverware, plated metal or even glass or porcelain, there are a series of pockets each receiving a single object, such as a knife, a fork or a spoon, with as large a portion as possible extending outside of the pocket for display purposes. The cloth is normally a napped cotton fabric which has been chemically treated to prevent tarnishing of silverware or platedtware.

The principal objection to all containers known to me is that while the blades of the knives, for example, are protected against tarnishing and scratching the handles frequently touch each other when the container is formed into a roll. In accordance with my invention an additional member is provided, weaving in and out of the handles and preventing them from touching, hence givingr the cloth roll both anti-tarnishing and anti-scratching properties.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View of the unfolded container.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the container taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pockets taken on the line 3--3 of Fig'. 1.

In the drawing the numeral I 0- indicates a main panel of napped cotton fabric which'has been chemically treated to prevent tarnishing of silver. This cloth is readily available on` the market, a preferred type being characterized by a rich burgundy color. The main panelpreferably has a straight edge II, a top edge I2, and bottom edge I4 and a shorter edge I5 which joins the upper and lower edges by curved portions I6.

In the lower right-hand corner I apply an auxiliary member 20, preferably ofthe same material, and stitch this auxiliary member as at 22 to form pockets 23 for receiving individual units I l length of the auxiliary member 20 which brings of the silverware. 'Ihe top to bottom dimension of the auxiliary member 20 is such that for 26, covering all of the exposed pieces.

the appropriate ware the handle 24 will be exposed above the top margin 25 of the auxiliary member, whereas the blade of the knife, the bowl of vthe spoon, or the tines of the fork will bein the-pocket 23.

' The upper portion of the main panel maybe folded over the handles of the silverware as a closure so that the edge I2 lies closely adjacent the margin 25 when vfolded along a line such as indicated at 26 and the auxiliary member 20 is preferably materially shorter than the main panel to provide an extension 21 forming the entire outside layer when the container is formed into a closed roll.

e Between the top margin 25 of the auxiliary member 20 and the line of fold 26, I provide a nap 30 preferably extending slightly beyond the side lmargin 3l of the auxiliary member. This flap may be pinked as at 32 and'is the means for preventing the handles of thej silverware from touching each other. This is accomplished, as illustrated, by placing the Ware, such as knives, for example, first With the handle of the knife touching the main panel, then the next knife is placed in the pocket with the handle extending over the flap 30,/.and so on, each piece being alternately above or below the pinked flap whichis of suiicient width to extend to the top of the knife or fork when in. the pocket.

In the preferred form of my device as illustrated the two edges of the auxiliary member are finished with overcasting stitches and ythis piece is then placed in proper position on the main rpanel and secured to it on the other two edges by the same overcasting 29, this also securing the pinked ap 30 to the main panel at the narrow edge 34 of the nap.

`In use, the silverware is placed in the pockets as illustrated in the drawing and should it be desired to expose all of the pieces this can readily be accomplished by merely lifting the upper free corner of the flap. It is usuallysufcient, however, for half of the pieces to be displayed but since the nap is secured'only along one narrow edge as at .34 all of the advantage of display canbe had by moving the nap to one side. In

lling the container yor roll the flap 30 is laid flat to the panel and the knives placed in position either under or over the. ap as may be desired. When all the pieces are in position the upper portion of the panel is folded along line The container may again be folded mid-Way of the the edge II over the edge 3|. 'I'he container is now rolled and the extended portion 21 forms the cover. The stitching of the end auxiliary member as usual secures as at 36, the tape 31 approximately centrally, and this is then tied in a bow in the usual manner.

- for receiving the silverware pieces in parallel rel lationship with a portion of each piece extending beyond the margin of the auxiliary member, an elongated spacing strip passing alternately over and under the displayed portions of the silverware, said strip being of such width as to prevent.

the ends of the displayed portions from touching one another, the side edges and at least one of the ends of said elongated strip being free, one side edge of said elongated spacing strip lying close to and substantially parallel with the line of the mouths of the pockets and the portion of the main panel beyond the ends of the silver- Ware pieces forming a side ap to be folded over the ends of the silverware pieces to prevent said pieces from coming out of the pockets when the silverware case or cover is f ormed into the usual closed roll shape.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the auxiliary member is rectangular and is of less length than the main panel so as to provide an end ilap, the spacing strip is pinked, is secured to the main panel. at one short edge and extends in width substantially from the margin of the pockets to the fold which forms the side flap.

LYDIA N. RATZLAFF. 

